La Strada
Ukraine

Key information

La Strada was established in 1997, focusing on three main issues: domestic violence, human trafficking and gender discrimination. It started the first hotline against the trafficking of women and children in Ukraine, followed by the second. Conflict increased in 2013 causing an increase in the risk of violence in Eastern Ukraine.

Main activities and achievements

Since beginning operations, the Center's national toll-free hotline has received around 124,000 calls, including 8,000 calls when the conflict intensified in 2014. Between January and October 2016 National Toll Free Hotline on Prevention Domestic Violence, Trafficking and Gender Discrimination received 28 680 calls. The line supports works on La Strada's key issues of domestic violence, trafficking and gender-based violence. Call operators give informational, legal and psychological consultations, and provide referrals to other agencies. Wide promotional campaigns are carried out to raise awareness of the support and consultations available.

Due to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the NGO has started working with IDP’s. 80% of all IDP calls are from women who were forced to flee from Donbass.

In 2013 La Strada Ukraine initiated standard operating procedures for providing assistance to victims of human trafficking. It was also the first organisation in Ukraine to provide legal support in rejection cases on the statuses of human trafficking victims.

La Strada Ukraine cooperates with (inter)national organizations, state bodies (both legislative and executive), the Ministry of social policy, the Ministry of internal affairs and the Ministry of education and science of Ukraine.

Other peacebuidling work includes preventive work on monitoring state policy, conducting research and developing and producing scientific and methodological materials. The Center has joined global campaigns, including for example the AVON “Speak out against domestic violence” initiative.

La Strada Ukraine is also active in advocacy. Since 2011, when Ukraine signed the Istanbul convention, it has lobbied for its implementation.

Finally, with around 400 trainers around Ukraine, La Strada has helped organise 18,143 events and training sessions for 461,000 people including police officers, social and educational workers and the general population. Training generally focuses on human trafficking and social, psychological and pedagogical work with conflict-affected children, and the prevention of gender violence.